I think that part of the problem with deciding whether the U-Turn was a good idea is the fact that there are so many other factors and unknowns that you just cannot account for. It's easy to say that if Carol and Brandy made it to the final three that they would have had an advantage, but they could have easily just been screwed over by some stupid third-party factor, such as the fact that they are short. That definitely would have made a difference in the challenge in TAR15 finale with the bouquets.

One of the reasons that I LOVE TAR is the fact that its mostly based on challenges, but there are elements of social play. Unlike Survivor, your life in the game doesn't depend on your social game NEARLY as much as your ability to cope with challenges and frustration.

I think social game is a huge factor on the Amazing Race - that's what saved my mom and me from being U-Turned in Beijing for having an alliance with Tammy & Victor. Sharing the information with the teams can be pretty helpful - that's what saved my mom and me in India when we were unable to understand the clue on the phone then Jaime & Cara told us what the clue was. Sure, it seems like a social game isn't a big deal on the Race, but it is a big deal in some way which could be a huge help. Also, we had to interact with the foreigners on where to go and we had to depends on the cab drivers' knowledge which could be a huge break or a bad luck on the Race.

Take a look at my season, the "loosen" alliances are a huge factor on the Race. Jaime & Cara, Tammy & Victor, Mom & I squared off with Mike & Mel, Preston & Jennifer, Amanda & Kris while Jodi & Christie, Jen & Kisha, Mark & Michael, Brad & Victoria were on their own. My entire alliance made it to the Final Three. Sometime, it paid off to have an alliance with couple teams. But for some seasons, it doesn't pan out well.

Its definately partially social, but it is not entirely social, and that's what I like.

It has been discussed by MANY racers in exit interviews and elsewhere, Luke. It really isn't a secret anymore.

But I agree, it is sad... It used to be a choice at the Pitstop...do I sleep and do laundry? Or do I mingle, form bonds, chat with the other teams, and create alliances? And the best part was the viewer go to share in those moments. Now it is rare footage to see even in the Insider clips. A shame really.

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RFF's Golden Rule:Have RESPECT for each other, regardless of opinion. This of course includes no flaming/insulting other users and/or their posts.

In addition to post-race interviews, we also have evidence from the show. One example is last season. As the racers arrived at the airport in Prague, for the final flight to Las Vegas, teams remarked that they didn't know who would be joining them and who had been eliminated. It was very clear that they didn't "mingle" during the "mandatory rest period," aka pitstop.

1. Jordan is totally in love with the race. Look at how he was smiling all throughout the WWI detour while others were complaining about what they had to do. It's his dream to win TAR. Dan actually doesn't wanna be there as much as Jordan, because he dislikes traveling, but he still hasn't complained as much as other teams have, and supports his brother.2. Believe me, I've seen more boring contestants than this season. At least this season I smile or laugh at least once every leg. There were some seasons where I just sat in front of my TV looking at who was in last and first (S15, S4, S13)3. Llamas are very hard to deal with, especially if u don't have a frickin' clue how to deal with them properly. They're really mischievous and can act like they have ADHD. And bungee jumping...it depends on you...if you're scared to death of heights, it's going to be hard. Look at how Jen nearly quit because she couldn't swim, or how Mika gave up on going down a waterslide simply because she was afraid of heights and water.4. They aren't the strongest (public gives that award to Eric/Jeremy) or the most memorable, but they certainly are memorable for the fact that they're unique and their last-to-first with speed bump achievement. They've mainly kept this season alive because the others are either really boring or simply pathetic racers. (the only exception is Steve/Allie, who instead were dished the editors' hatred)5. Speed bumps (as discussed earlier) aren't meant to be difficult. They're just meant to eat up the team's time. If you don't have a solid lead over at least one other team, it can spell your doom. If it were just like any other detour/roadblock difficulty task, I think no last place team would be able to catch up. If that were the case, what's the whole point of an NEL then??[/quote]Well well well...another person who thinks this season is good..!! how sad 1. One think is jordan loving the places they went and another is to have the passion and drive (such as dustin and kandice or jaime and cara) for the race. You can enjoy the trip but no necesarily want it really bad.

2. Season 13: it was really competition between the top 6 and dandrew were hilarous..!! Season 15: was all about figuring out: Leg 1: Figure out that the almost unvisible sign in their clue was what will give them ticketsLeg 2: Figure out that the bassac III it was a riverboatLeg 3: Figure out that the building shown in their clue was the Ho Chi Min City Main Post OfficeLeg 4: Figure out that the picture in the newspaper were sending them to the Hotel RoyalLeg 5: Figure out the world's highest buildingLeg 6: Figure out that the hour shown in the watch was the key to get their next clueLeg 7: Figure out the numbers of bellsLeg 8: Figure out the place where their clue box wereLeg 9: Figure out that thy need to put the papaer near to the flame to see their next clueLeg 10: Figure out that the praga was actually a carLeg 11: Figure out the name "Franz"Leg 12: Figure out the "montecarlo" casino

So, with all these things, i think miss dumbie would've been the first to go!!!!!!!! So those seasons are much more interesting than this one

3. Well if yu are gonna be on The Amazing Race, and if you saw previous seasons...then you know that you will find really hard and extreme stuffs to do, so if you have a couple of fears, why you apply??

4. the only reason people and i remind them is just because they're useless, boring and lucky...that's it.!!!

5. The speed bumps most be difficult to see how strong a team is....ANY team (such as suckboys, dumbie and brent) can get in 1st after a season 16 speed bump!

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"" JUSTICE 4 DUSTIN&KANDICE: PUT THEM ON THE AMAZING RACE LEGENDS SEASON ""

1. I feel Jordan has got to be THE most passionate racer this season. It may not show all the time, but he has a love for the race and a pure enjoyment for every thing that he's doing. I mean, he climbed across the top of the freakin' Singapore Flyer- when he's deathly afraid of heights. And Dan, although he doesn't have a passion for racing, has amazing strength and character for STILL racing, when he hates traveling. His passion for making sure his brother is happy, no matter the cost is a great thing to see.

2. So, you're saying that a team doesn't deserve to win because they had a couple bad legs? What happened to whoever makes it to the end deserves to be there? Making it farther in the race involves skill, knowledge, luck, and social grace (both with teams and locals). Although some of the remaining teams don't have some of those, some of the "stronger" eliminated teams, were definitely lacking in others.

3. the water task was more of a time consuming task, than a "difficult" task. The amount of time to put the wet suits on, put that stupid bird contraption and climb up to the dock, jumping off, getting out of the contraption while being suspended in water, swimming a decent distance to AND from the buoy, getting the wet suits off; putting all of that together, it takes a good chunk of time. And the llamas can be very unpredictable and volatile, and I believe once they choose one, they have to stick to it. So, if they got a foul tempered one (which is super easy with llamas), they're stuck with it. They only seemed easy because they edited it down to 1 minute per team for the show. and bungee jumping can be a difficult task, whether you're scared of heights or not. and there were definitely "easier" tasks in seasons past.

4. the cowboys are the strongest team this season, and one of the more memorable ones. again, any team that makes it to the end, deserves to win. they made it there, other teams didn't, simple as that. you can whine and complain all you want, but it will not change the fact that those teams are there, and your favorites are gone.

5. speed bumps are supposed to be easy, like was stated several times in this thread already. the switchback was only hard because they chose to use the TOUGHEST task in race history. and again, were Joe and Heidi and Carol and Brandy NOT strong teams? Do they all of a sudden deserve to not be U-turn, just for the reasoning? They were both still reasonable threats, and I, myself, would've U-turned Carol/Brandy at that point in the race, knowing of the imminent memory challenge that is coming with the finale.

This season isn't as bad as everyone claims. There are countless times where the teams I'm rooting for don't make it as far as I'd like, but does that make those seasons "bad seasons?" No, look past the teams, and look at the race in general.

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1. He only did the singapore flyer thing just because it was the only way to get in 1st place...that's the only way a poor-perfoming team get in 1st.

2. I'm just saying that NONE of the teams deserve to be there (neither the eliminated ones) it's just such a acrappy casting that makes this season really boring....i miss the "beauty queens against the models" times...that was a really bloody and hardcore race

3. Why would you apply if you are scared of those things? previous seasons proved that the possibility to do those stuffs are high.! Both chile tasks are one of the silliest..spcially the painting one..!! what was that?? that's what my little sister is doing in kinder

4. I don't have favourites this season and that's what you think, but i still think that they're not memorable as much as the real good/strong teams from the past.

5. If the speed bumps are gonna be easy, just remove the NEL's....it's sad to see really interesting/strong teams go, and see how lame teams earn an undeserved spot in the final three

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"" JUSTICE 4 DUSTIN&KANDICE: PUT THEM ON THE AMAZING RACE LEGENDS SEASON ""